ALL THINGS BOEING

              

Boeing completed the first flight of the UK’s E-7 Wedgetail for the Royal Air Force (RAF).  A Boeing flight-test crew conducted functional checks during the first flight from Birmingham Airport, marking a significant milestone in the program’s test and evaluation phase.

Currently unpainted, the aircraft is one of three NG aircraft on British soil undergoing modification by a highly skilled team of over 100 people at STS Aviation Services in Birmingham.

“This safe and systemic Functional Check Flight is an important step for Boeing and the RAF as part of our rigorous and extensive testing and evaluation,” said Stu Voboril, Boeing vice president and E7 program manager.  “Our team is committed to ensuring the E-7 delivers the safety, quality, and capabilities we’ve promised to our customer as we prepare to deliver the UK’s first E-7 Wedgetail to the RAF.”

Group Captain Richard Osselton, RAF Program Director for Wedgetail said, “Achieving the first flight of Wedgetail is a significant milestone, representing an outstanding effort from the RAF program team, DE&S, Boeing, and STS Aviation.  We will build on the success and look forward to continuing the test and evaluation phase as part of our preparations for the aircraft to enter service.”

The RAF, the Republic of Korea Air Force, and the Turkish Air Force currently operate the E-7.   Boeing is also building two rapid prototype E-7 aircraft for the USAF, and in 2023, NATO announced the selection of the E-7 for its AEW&C mission.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

                   Japan Eyes Big Increase In Tanker Numbers

The US government has cleared Tokyo to buy nine Boeing KC-46A tankers, potentially offering a significant boost to the country’s air-to-air refueling capabilities.

Japan has requested nine KC-46As, with the cost of aircraft and related equipment, logistics, and services coming to potentially $4.1 billion, according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).  Should Japan take all nine aircraft, its long-term KC-46A fleet could grow to 15.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force(JASDF) already operates four KC-46As.  It also has orders for two more: original planes call for these to arrive in 2025.

Extra tankers would allow the JASDF to not only conduct longer-range operations against regional foes, but also better support US forces in the event of a regional conflict.

Source: FlightGlobal, Picture Boeing

                     

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

               GlobalX Takes Delivery of 18th A320-Family Aircraft

Charter carrier Global Crossing Airlines has taken delivery of its 18th Airbus aircraft, an 150-seat A320 it is leasing from Dubai-based DAE Capital.    The Miami-based cargo and passenger carrier, which operates as GlobalX, disclosed the delivery of the aircraft via a a social media post on September 24.

The jet rolled off Airbus’ production line in Toulouse in 2007 and was originally operated by Virgin America, according to Cirium fleets data.

GlobalX now operates 11 passenger-carrying A320s and seven A321s converted for cargo, all of which are leased.  In April, the carrier received approval from US aviation authorities to grow its fleet to up to 20 family aircraft.

The same day it received the aircraft, the carrier disclosed plans to launch, starting this month, three weekly round-trip cargo flights from Chicago to San Juan, Porto Rico with A321 Freighters.

GlobalX launched in 2021 and has since pursued aggressive growth.

Source: GlobalX, picture GlobalX      

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                 Duncan To Add Paint Hanger in Lincoln, Nebraska

Duncan Aviation is kicking off construction in December on a $25 million paint facility at its Lincoln, Nebraska location.  Plans call for a 32,500-sq-ft dual-bay hanger with an additional 9,000-sq-ft storage and support area that will connect to the MRO provider’s existing paint facility built in 2012.  The project also entails the expansion of the ramp on the building’s west side.

Designed and engineered by long-time Duncan Aviation partner Tectonic Management Group, the facility will feature cross-draft bays with updated climate control, as well as upgraded wastewater treatment and added air showers to contain more contaminants.  It will further have a small application booth for parts such as flaps and thrust reversers.

The new facility will accommodate large models such as the Gulfstream G650, Dassault Falcon 10X, and Bombardier Global 7500, as well as flexibility for unscheduled and drop-in work such as paint touch-up and registration number changes.

Source: Duncan Aviation                                                                     

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

             De Havilland Producing First DAC-515 Firefighter

De Havilland Canada is assembling its first DHC-515 Firefighter in Calgary and expects to begin delivering the aircraft in early 2028, a bit later than previously anticipated.

But De Havilland’s vice-president of corporate affairs, Neil Sweeney, says the program is progressing well and that De Havilland has worked through supply chain troubles.

De Havilland’s development of the twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100-powered DHC-515 water bomber, an update to the CL-415, has required the company to reboot a production system and supplier network idled since 2015; when Bombardier, the program’s previous owner, stopped producing the CL-415s.

De Havilland has for several months been producing DHC_515 components.  It makes the aircraft’s airframes, wings, cockpits, and other aerostructures in-house.

Sweeny tells FlightGlobal De Havilland aims to roll out the first DHC-515 at the end of 2027 or the beginning of 2028, for the first aircraft to be flying in time for the 2028 fire season which aligns with the northern hemisphere’s warm weather months.

De Havilland will eventually produce nine to 12 DHC-515s annually.  The company also intends to relocate production from Calgary to De Havilland Field, a massive under-construction site east of Calgary in sparsely populated Wheatland County, Alberta.  De Havilland plans to move its manufacturing, maintenance, and parts distribution work to the site, which will include a runway.

Source: De Havilland

                         Avolon  will Obtain Castlelake Aviation

Lessor Avolon will obtain Castlelake Aviation, adding 118 aircraft to its portfolio.  Castlelake Aviation’s assets were worth $5 billion as of March 31, according to the two companies.  Avolon is buying the portfolio from investment manager Castlelake, which oversees $22 billion in assets.  The portfolio includes 105 aircraft that are on lease, two engines on lease, commitments for 13 aircraft as well as nine loans.

Avolon does not break down specific aircraft types but indicates that 68% of the aircraft are narrow bodies and 70% are new technology aircraft.  The average age is 4.7 years.  “This transaction accelerates our growth plans adding a portfolio of assets that will further strengthen our cashflow and earnings profile,” says Avolon Chief Executive Andy Cronin.

“Our balance sheet strength, high levels of liquidity, and established capital markets access have enabled us to acquire these assets.  They are complementary to our existing portfolio and will increase our fleet at attractive yields, supporting our positive ratings trajectory.”

The Portfolio has $3.3 billion of transferable debt, with the balance of the deal to be funded from Avolon’s existing sources of funds.  The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025.

Source:  Avolon, Picture Avolon   

LATEST NEWS

• United Airlines’ first Boeing 787-8 with the ‘Evo-Blue’ livery has entered into service after exiting the paint shop in Texas.  The ‘Evo-Blue’ is five years old and the second livery change after the United Airlines— Continental Airlines Merger.

• LOT, Poland’s flag carrier placed three Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft leased from BOC Aviation.  The aircraft will be delivered in 2025.

• T’Way South Korean low-cost carrier T’way Air will lease five Airbus A330neos from Avolon to support international growth.

• Qatar Airways is supporting IndiGo with Boeing 737 Max 8 capacity as the Iindian ULCC grounded more than 70 Airbus A320neo family aircraft related to the Pratt &Whitney geared turbofan(GTF) engine problems.

Sources: Qatar Airways, Avolon, United, LOT

AIR CARGO

                Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines Enter A Join Venture

Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines are to establish a first-of-its-kind joint venture with the aim of promoting economic and trade cooperation and enhancing global logistics and connectivity.

The joint venture project builds on the already successful partnership between Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines, which has significantly enhanced connectivity and capacity between China, the UAE, and global trade routes’ relationship that has been mutually beneficial for both airlines and their customers.

The newly announced joint venture project will take this collaboration to unprecedented heights.  Beyond capacity sharing, this partnership represents a full strategic alignment between Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines, combining their strengths to offer a unified, comprehensive logistics solution to customers worldwide.

Source: Times Aerospace, Picture Etihad

                         

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ALL THINGS BOEING

                   Boeing, USAF Formalizes E-7A Contract With Boeing

The US Air Force has formalized $2.6 billion contract with Boeing for a pair of E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) prototypes.  The contract, awarded under a “rapid prototype program,” will see two operationally representative assets delivered in the government’s 2028 financial year.

“This agreement is a significant win for our warfighters, paving the way for ensuring the air force’s ability to prove advanced airborne moving target indication in the coming years,” says Andrew Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.

The rapid prototyping effort will see specific USA mission systems integrated into the aircraft, which is based on the 737-700 airliner.  The systems will meet USAF requirements and ensure interoperability with allies that already field the type.  Existing operators of the E-7 are Australia, Turkey, and South Korea, while the UK is also acquiring the AEW&C platform.  The USAF plans to obtain 26 examples of the types, which will replace the obsolescent E-3A.

“Global operators are proving that the E-7 AEW&C is a critical node for air superiority in the modern battlespace,” says Boeing’s E-7 program manager Stu Voboril.  As part of efforts to prepare for the arrival of the new jets, USAF personnel have been embedded with Royal Australian Air Force E-7A crews.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

             Boeing Returns to Lead Top 100 Aerospace Companies

The upper end of the latest Top 100 ranking of aerospace businesses by revenue has an old familiar feel. Boeing and Airbus head the table with RTX and Lockheed Martin in their wakes.  The big two airframers fought it out for prime spot for most of the previous decade, but the collapse in the airline market during the pandemic saw Lockheed and post-merger RTX each emerge as aeropause’s largest player in subsequent surveys.

The US airframer’s return to peak position might seem surprising given depth of its financial, industrial, reputational woes. However, its sales success only tells part of the story.  Boeing’s revenues rose by about a sixth in 2023, but it remained in operational loss—albeit much less than its $3.5 billion deficit in 2022.

Source: FlightGlobal,FlightGlobal                   

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

             KLM Takes Delivery of its First Airbus A321neo Aircraft

On August 27, 2024 Dutch national carrier KLM, member of the Air France-KLM Group, has taken delivery of its first A321neo as part of their fleet modernization with the latest generation aircraft.  The newly delivered A321neo for KLM seats 227 passengers in two-class layout.

The cabin features Airbus’ Airspace cabin with XL bins.  The larger bins provide 60% more luggage capacity for more relaxed boarding experience for passengers and cabin crew.  In addition, USB-C ports are available for passengers at every seat, and the latest lighting system enhances the overall passenger experience.

The A321neo is the largest member of of Airbus’ best selling A320neo Family, offering range and performance.  Equipped with shark lets and powered by new generation CFM International LEAP-1A engines, the A321neo brings a 505 noise footprint reduction and at least 20% fuel savings and CO2 reduction compared to previous generation single-aisle aircraft, while maximizing passenger comfort in the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky. Today, more than 6,400 A321neo aircraft have been ordered by more than 90 customers across the globe.

Source: Airbus, picture Airbus    

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                            Global 7500 Amassing Speed Records

Bombardier’s Global 7500 has been rapidly racking up speed records, topping 50 of them in less than 50 weeks.  The ultra-long-range aircraft has established records from Miami to Sao Paulo, Tokyo to Las Angeles, Jeddah to London Bahrain.

The 10 fastest new records averaged a speed of more than 1,000 km/h Bombardier reported.  Top speed of the Global 7500 is Mach 0.925, and the aircraft has a baseline range of 7,700 nm.  As speed records have accrued, the in-service fleet continues to expand with now close to 200 delivered. Collectively, the fleet has logged more than 180,000 flying hours.

Meanwhile,Bombardier continues to progress on its even speedier Global 8000 successor that can fly at Mach 0.94.  Announced in 2022, the Global 8000 will have an 8,000-nm range and cabin altitude of less than 2,900 feet while flying at FL410.  The Montreal-based airframer is planning service entry in 2025.

Source: Bombardier, Picture Bombardier

            Gulfstream Achieves First Flight of G400 Business Jet

Gulfstream successfully completed first flight of its new G400 business jet with a nearly 3 hour sortie starting  and ending at Savannah Hilton Head International airport in Georgia.  During the first flight, the G400 reached a speed of Mach 0.85 and an altitude of 41,000ft burning a blend of sustainable aviation fuel and conventional jet fuel.  “The completion of the first flight marks a significant milestone for the G400,” says Mark Burns, Gulfstream’s president.

“It demonstrates, yet again, the maturity of Gulfstream’s new aircraft programs and the advantages created by the intentionally designed commonalities shared across our next-generation fleet.”  The type will be available in 11 or 12 passenger cabin configurations.  Gulfstream’s family of next-generation business jets also includes, the G500, G600, the flagship G700 and ultra-long-range G800.

Source: Glfstream, Picture Gulfstream

                                                                       

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                  Red Sea Airlines Marks its Second Anniversary

Red Sea Airlines marked the second anniversary of starting operations on September 2nd, with plans to expand its current fleet of three Boeing 737-800s to five early next year.  The airline is primarily a leisure carrier and has tapped into the rapidly growing market in Central Asia, the airline’s director of ground operations, Ahmed Mohamed El-Gendy said.

“Demand there is so high.  Whenever I open a flight, tour operators from there book all the seats.  Because we are a low-cost carrier, we can give them a competitive price.” The airline is operating from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan & Tajikistan, as well as from the Caucasus—Armenia—and Eastern Europe,Romania and Moldova.

At present, western European destinations are largely in Germany and Italy, but the company plans to expand its route map in that region when its new aircraft arrive.  The company’s primary destinations for inbound tourists are Harghada and Sharm El Sheikh, on Egypt’s Red Sea coast.

“We are fully loaded to the east and want to go more to the west and middle East,” said El-Gendy.  The company will be able to handle the extra demand when the two new 737-800s, being acquired on lease purchase, arrive in the first quarter of 2025.

Source: Red Sea Airlines.     

Emirates Purchase Five A380s From Channel Island Leasing Firm

Middle Eastern carrier Emirates is to purchase five more Airbus A380s from an investment company once their lease period expires later this year.  Emirates is to pay $40 million for each aircraft, according to the Channel Islands-based investment company Doric Nimrod Air Two.  The leases are set to expire over the course of October 1 to November 3.

Doric Nimrod Air Two, which is located in Guernsey, purchased seven A380s in 2011, all fitted with Engine Alliance GP200 powerplants and leased to Emirates for 12 years.

Two of these have already been sold to Emirates in a transaction carried out last year.  The five remaining aircraft  carry MSNs 105, 106, 107, 109 and 110.  With its purpose complete, Doric Nimrod Air Two will be liquidated it says, once payment to shareholders is completed around early 2025.

Source: FlightGlobal

                       ANA’s Emissions-Reducing Aeroshark Film

All Nippon Airways has applied the low-drag AeroShark surface film on a single Boeing 777 freighter, becoming the second Asian operator to use the oil on its aircraft.  EVA Air  is the first Asian carrier to apply the low-drag AeroShark surface film on its fleet of Boeing 777 freighters.  The first 777F with AeroShark film( JA771F) entered service on the third of September, operating a flight from Tokyo Narita to Chicago.

ANA adds that it intends to apply the film on a passenger 777-300ER(JA796A), which will enter service early next year.  ANA worked with AeroShark developer Lufthansa Technik for the application of the film on its 777F.

ANA is the second Asian carrier with the AeroShark film on its 777s.  Fellow Star Alliance member EVA Air announced in late August it would be coating its 777Fs with the film, with the first example to enter service in September.  So far, the film has been installed on aircraft operating in the Lufthansa Group: a sole 747-400, all 12 777-300ERs operated by Swiss International Air Lines, and four 777Fs that fly for Lufthansa Cargo.  Work has also begun on applying the film to four Austrian Airlines 777-200ERs.

Source: Lufthansa Technik          

LATEST NEWS

• Boeing in August delivered its highest monthly total of 737 Max jets to China since the Covid-19 pandemic overturned the airline industry.

• August deliveries included 32 737 Max jets, with Ryanair leading the way with six aircraft, followed by India with four, and three each to Southwest Airlines,United Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines.Other Chinese Customers to take aircraft in eluded Shandong Airlines,China Southern Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines.  During the eight months ended on August 31st, Boeing handed over to customers 258 aircraft— 201 737s, 14 767s, 32 787s and 11 777s.

• Airbus in August delivered 47 aircraft, including 36 A320neo-family jets, five A350s, five A220s and a single A330. During the eight months ending August 31st delivered 447 aircraft.

• Oman Air has received the first of three Boeing 787-9 aircraft scheduled for this year. Part of an existing order, which includes eight more aircraft in 2027.

• WestJet Airlines plans to add three more leased Boeing Max 8s to its fleet, for a total of nine of the type added in the past six month.

• Airbus faces a tough task to hit delivery target amid lingering parts shortages, ongoing shortages of engines, cabin components and other parts have left Airbus challenged to hit its 2024 delivery goal, meaning the company need to quickly ramp output to hit the target.  That is according to Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury who, on September 10, said the manufacturer faces a big challenge for the last four months of the year.  Airbus in June had reset its 2024 delivery target to 770 aircraft-an average of 64 jets monthly- down from a previous goal of 800.

• Icelandair has shown off its first Airbus aircraft, an A321LR which has been painted in the carrier’s colors in Hamburg.

• KlasJet, a private and corporate jet charter company, will increase its capacity in the Middle East with the placement of an additional Boeing 737 in Saudi Arabia.  KlasJet currently operates six 737s for VIP charter services as well as seven next-generation aircraft.

Sources: Boeing, Airbus, FlightGlobal, Oman Air, WestJet, Icelandair

                                                             AIR CARGO    

         CMA CGM Air Cargo Launches Transpacific Route

CMA CGM Air Cargo has started a new transpacific route between Hong Kong International Airport(HKG) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) using its recently delivered third Boeing 777-200 freighter operated by Atlas Air.

The first commercial flight took place on August 25, connecting HKG to ORD with a technical stop at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport(ANC).  On the westbound leg, the aircraft operates from ORD to HKG via Inchon International Airport(ICN) in Seoul.  Two additional 777-200F are also due to be delivered to Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG)-based CMA CGM Air Cargo with next year.

A second 777-200F will be received in the fourth quarter of 2024 and will be deployed on a transpacific route, connecting mainland China to North America.  A third 777F will also be delivered in 2025 to give CMA CGM Air Cargo a total of five 777Fs.

Source: CMA CGM Air Cargo, picture CMA CGM Air

        Atlas Air to Add Three Boeing 747-8 Freighters To Fleet

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings,Inc announced on August 22 that it will be adding three Boeing 747-8 freighters to its fleet to meet the strong global demand for dedicated large widebody airfreight capacity, particularly for cross-border e-commerce shipping.  The three additional 747-8Fs, secured through long-term finance lease agreements with BOC Aviation, are expected to enter service late in the third quarter of 2024.

“Atlas is the world’s largest operator of Boeing 747 Freighters aircraft and we are thrilled to expand our widebody fleet with these three 747-8Fs, following the four 747-400Fs we acquired and placed with customers under long-term agreements earlier this year,” said Michael Steen, Atlas Air Worldwide Chief Executive Officer.

“Our growth in this aircraft type underscores Atlas’ commitment to the 747-freighter platform and the value it provides our customers, including significant payload capacity and unique nose-loading capability.”

Source : Atlas Air Worldwide

        Asiana Acquires Two ex-China Airlines 747 Freighters

China Airlines has sold two Boeing 747-400 freighters to South Korean operator Asiana Airlines.  The deal, brokered by Aviation Management Solutions, is valued at more than $51 million dollars according to stock exchange filings.  Asiana says it is purchasing the jets to replace its fleet of aging freighters to enhance punctuality.

The two aircraft bear the MSNS 30768 and 30765, according to Aviation Management Solutions. Cirium fleets data shows that MSN30768 has been registered N111VL and was formerly B-18711.  It was delivered to Taiwanese operator in 2002.

Meanwhile, MSN30765 was formerly B-18708, which has been re-registered as N132VL.  China Airlines operated the freighter between 2001 and 2024, according  to fleets data.  Both freighters are powered by GE aerospace CF6 engines and are currently in storage at Victorville in California.

The acquisition comes as Asiana prepares to divest its cargo business in the lead-up to its merger with compatriot Korean Air.  On August 7, Korean said it had signed a basic business sale agreement with Air Inchon for the acquisition of the cargo business.

Source: FlightGlobal, Cirium fleets data, picture China Airlines

                         

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian